Simplified idler arm adjuster



J. B. DICK SIMPLIFIED IDLER ARM ADJUSTER 'Filed March 5, 1957 'IPFE- EFCL. E CIA/V55 5. //f" Blf# May 6, 195s L //3 United States Patent O2,833,551 SIMPLIFIED IDLER ARM ADJU STER James B. Dick, Birmingham, Ala.Application March 5, 1957, Serial No. 644,097 1 Claim. (Cl. 28o-95) Thepresent invention relates to a simplified idler arm adjuster and itconsists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of partsherein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a device which is designed to eliminatelooseness caused by wear in the idler arm assembly of automobiles whileat the same time providing a stabilizing effect in the front endassembly of such automobiles against road shock and weaving. The deviceconsists simply of a sleeve adapted to receive therein the conventionalbushing and which sleeve is provided with a lateral extension to whichis removably attached by means of a cap screw or the like a verticallydependent arm whose lower end is directed inwardly and terminates in avertically dependent socket which is adapted to bear against theadjacent end of the idler arm. The device is such that it may -be u' edon a great variety of present day automobiles and is one which may beinstalled in a rninimum of time and with a minimum of effort.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and yet eiiective and ecient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a de- Vice of thecharacter set forth, novel means for mounting the same upon an idler armassembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, a positive thrust of an idler arm against itsbushing thereby removing all looseness therebetween.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a device of thecharacter set forth, means for producing a side thrust whereby therewill be positive engagement of threads both at the bottom and at the topportion of the conventional bushing associated therewith wherebyto allowthe idler arm to work freely in its bushing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterset forth which provides means for the removal of looseness between anidler arm and its bushing whereby to eliminate road shock and weave andthus unnecessary wear in the associated portions of an automobileincluding the adjacent tires.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an embodiment v of the inventionshowing the same in operative position upon an idler arm assembly,

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating thecomponent parts of the invention,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional Figure 3,

Figure 6 is an elevational view of a bushing forming a part of the idlerarm assembly,

view taken along line 5-5 of ice Figure 7 is a vertical sectional viewof the device illustrated in Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is an 'enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of abracket forming a part of the idler arm assembly with which the deviceis used. y

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein aportion of an automobile frame 10 to which is affixed by bolts 11 or thelike the vertical arm 12 of an L-shaped bracket 13 whose lower arm 14extends in a horizontal direction.

The arm 14 of the bracket 3 is provided with an opening having anupstanding integrally formed seat 15, the opening being indicated at 16and being interiorly threaded for the reception of a verticallyextending bushing 17 provided in its upper end with a grease tting 19,as is conventional.

The bushing 17 is interiorly threaded for the reception therein of theinner end portion 19 of an idler arm 20 and a rubber grommet 21surrounds lthe idler arm 20 and 'bears against the under side of thebracket arm 14, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The device embodying the present invention comprises a cylindricalsleeve 22 having an integrally formed lateral extension 23 to which isremovably connected by means of a screw 24 or the l'ke a verticallyextending tension arm 25 Whose lower end is integrally formed therewithan inwardly extending web 26 dependent from the inner end of which is asocket 27.

In use, it will be apparent that in Order to install the device of thepresent invention, it is only necessary to place the sleeve 22 over thebushing 17 and to lower the same until it comes into contact with theseat 15 whereupon the tensioning arm 25 is attached to the extension 23by means of the screw 24, it being apparent that the socket 27 will nowbear against the grommet 21 and that further tightening of the screw 24will impart a thrust against the portion 19 of the idler arm in adirection to the left as viewed in Figure 3 while at the same timeimparting a thrust to the right, likewise as viewed in Figure 3 againstthe bushing 17. It will be apparent that aside thrust of this type willimpart positive engagement of the threads to portion 19 with the threadsin the bushing 17 thus leaving the bushing complete freedom of movementwithout the usual pinching o-f the threads at the bottom of the bushingwhich is usual in other devices of this character. It will likewise beapparent that the device may be installed in a very minimum of time andeffort and without in any manner altering or damaging the parts withwhich it is associated while at the same time removing all looseness andproviding the proper amount of tension to eliminate road shock and weaveand producing a quiet Stabilized steering condition free from annoyingdriving disturbances.

While 'but one form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatmany minor modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising, in combination with anidler arm having a vertically extending threaded end portion, a brackethaving an apertured horizontal arm, a bushing vertically aflixed andextending through said horizontal arm and threadably receiving throughits lower end said threaded end portion of said idler arm, the provisionof an idler arm adjuster cornprising a sleeve adapted to encompass saidbushing above said horizontal arm, a lateral extension aflixed to saidsleeve, a vertically dependent tensioning arm having its lower end incontact with said idler arm below said horizontal arm, and a screwinterconnecting said extension with the upper end `of said tensioningarm, said tensioning 2,588,544 arm having an inwardly directed webformed integrally 2,660,908 with the lower end thereof, and said webhaving a de- 2,689,756 pendent socket formed at theinner end thereof,said socket adapted to bear against the idler arm below said hori- 5 485556 zontal arm of said bracket.`

2,523,321 Nason sept. 26, 1950 1 4 Langer -1 Mar. 11, 1952 French et al,Dec. 1, 1953 Carlson Sept. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Aug. 12, 1952

